Celtic are 'sternest test' but Rangers can win - Michael Beale in full

How much are you looking forward to this Old Firm game?

I'm really looking forward to it. It's the derby of all derbies and watched worldwide. It's a privilege to be involved in it and it's the date I've been most looking forward to since coming back into the club.

Is this game important to the remainder of the season?

You get three points from it don't you like the others and that's what I was trying to say last week. Three points against Motherwell is important, after this, whatever happens we have to get three points against Dundee United as well. It's not 'win this game and everything is rosy'. I realise what I have come into. When a club changes manager after 15 games in a league it's obviously not because things are not going well and there's an uphill struggle to win the league. I think at the moment my players and staff can only do what they have done which is win the four games into this game and having the centre-halves back in the last couple of games was pleasing, keeping two clean sheets and in three of the four games we have scored three goals. So, as much as I want more, at this moment in time they have done what's there and we will get a lot of feedback after the game on the second but then we have to go to Dundee United and keep winning. The margin for error is very small.

Do you have to win to win the title?

We are at the half-way stage. I don't know how Celtic's form is going to be in the next 19 games but you'd have to say up until now it's been fantastic in any season in any league but certainly here in Scotland, if a team win 18 out of 19 you have to say they are having fantastic form. Ours has not been as strong, that's a fact, hence me being here. Since I've been here it's been pretty good. What I don't want to do is hold back where we need to get to. We will get feedback from the sternest test we can have. After the game I will know exactly the job I will have to get Rangers back to the top.

How is Alfredo Morelos?

He came in yesterday and was feeling better. Today was the second day of recovery. The team will train again tomorrow and as far as I can see he will be available. Antonio [Colak] will be available as well. Kemar [Roofe] is touch and go because he's done slightly less. He will definitely be available if Alfredo isn't because it's one of those situations. We've used 20 players in the four league games to get the group where they are now. If Alfredo comes through we will have played our cards quite well getting everybody fitter and stronger than they were a month ago.

Can you afford to take a gamble with him with the five substitutes?

I think so. I think the game is changing and players will go on longer in their careers because of it. I also think the speed of the game can pick up because you know you can change half your outfield players. There is definitely benefits from it. I like the five substitute rule to be honest. It allows me change things like I had to do at Aberdeen and I'm sure it will go the other way when I have to shore things up. In the season where we won the league I think Bongani Zungu played more than twenty times but nobody noticed him play five but it was important he came on in certain games. 

How important is your experience of this game?

It's hugely important. Let's be honest, we don't have the rhythm that Celtic have right now. We don't, that's a fact. It's not an excuse. we have had the two centre-backs for two games and maybe 30 minutes against Aberdeen. Do we look watertight? No. I don't think we ever will because we like our full-backs on the list line to open the pitch up. There's a reason we scored three goals in these games. At this moment in time, all the rhythm, all the form, all of the continuity and consistency is in the other camp. That's fine. Two teams play the game and we are looking forward to it.

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Does the performance need to be better than the last four to get a result?

The result needs to be the same. The performance, whatever it takes to get it, as long as the result is there will make me happy. You won't see me unhappy if we win on Monday evening. I will still stick to the comment that we need to see where this group is at and how far they have got to go. This is the sternest test. They are the champions. A year ago you were sitting here interviewing a Rangers manager that was in front and it's important we start moving back to that. A lot has changed in the last twelve months. Fair play to them, their form has been excellent. Ange has done a very good job. We have a mutual acquaintance who came to visit me many years ago so I've been aware of Ange for a number of years.  I think some of you guys weren't aware of him and his history. He's certainly shown he's very good at his job and he's got everyone's respect for that.

How different are they as a side since your last spell?

Probably a parallel to where we are at with me coming in five or six games to where we were under Steven Gerrard. They can be vulnerable like any team. He's taken it from uncertainty to recruiting well and being very certain of the style. We've seen, like any team, in Europe and some domestic games they can be vulnerable and I think it's important my team focus on that and play to our true level. If we do the game will be close. If we don't we won't be but that's the same when you play with two even teams.

What did you enjoy about the fixture last time?

It's a privilege to be involved. It's a fixture where the whole world watches Scottish football. It's one to celebrate. I don't like some of the things around the fixture. In terms of the football and spectacle it's an amazing game and I loved watching it as a young kid. I love watching it as a fan. I loved being involved in it as an assistant. Listen, I have no fear about playing this game, just excitement and wanting to see where my team is at right now. I want the talking to stop and play the game. At this point, everyone in the media will say Celtic are stronger. Okay, what an opportunity that is for us to see where we are then.

Are you confident?

I'm still hugely confident. It's Rangers at Ibrox against anybody. They need to know they are in a match. We know we are in a match. We will meet them at the half-way line and look them head on and will go for the three points. We won't be making a step backwards. If it looks like we are taking a step backwards it will be because they have the upper hand in the game. But we won't be taking a step backwards for Celtic or anyone who comes here to Ibrox.

How big is this game in your managerial career so far?

It’s a lovely one. I’m extremely excited about the game and very optimistic about what my team can produce. We will get feedback, at the end of it I will still have a real big job to do. The window opens before the game but our focus is on the game. We will look to strengthen in different areas and look to move forward. What’s clear is there is a big job on here. We’re about to play a derby at home, what is there not to look forward to?

Is the upcoming Old Firm a good chance for everything to click?

Listen, you want to see things in practice be a little but more smooth, in rhythm. When I sit back, I worked here previously for 190 games and we didn’t always win every four games. There’s been good things and I’ll take the positive of Connor and Ben, who are not 100 percent, coming back into the game and getting two clean sheets. In the 30 minutes they played together at Aberdeen we didn’t give up a shot on our goal. In that sense there is big positives. This group are used to me being very demanding and I think they need me to. They receive the same honesty as you. Wherever we get to I still will be wanting more, that’s the nature of football.

Do you feel extra pressure as the main man?

Responsibility yeah to a lot of people that support this club. I travelled back home to see my family in the last 24 hours so travelling back has been interesting. You bump into a lot of people of both sides, everyone very polite I’ve got to be honest. The game is a huge privilege to play and I feel responsibility every day. Last week, I don’t want those comments to be misconstrued. We have to beat everybody in this league if we’re going to be at the top because the team setting the pace at the moment has won 18/19 games. We’re in a league where it’s fatal if you drop points outside of the derby. That’s the situation. That’s probably why I’m in the job. So far so good in the four games, it has not been vintage. It’s not exactly how I want it to look. But the most important thing was win the four games and if we do well it doesn’t mean we can have a week off at Dundee United next week which will be extremely tough as well. The situation we are in is not ideal but I just want to play this game for what is. I want to see something from my team, my club in this game. After we will get feedback which will either be where we should be, a long way from it or somewhere in between which is probably what I am predicting right now. We need that feedback to move forward because second is not good enough here.

Can you expand on your comments about looking disjointed?

It’s the area of the pitch that has concerned me. In the back and middle third. In the final third I want them to risk the ball and try things. I want Malik to go on his little dribbles and Ryan to be as expressive as ever. It’s just in that middle to back third, maybe it is a focus thing. I just felt at times the other night there was too many passing errors. I think we had 87 percent passing accuracy but it didn’t feel like that. Every player had one or two unopposed passing errors and that doesn’t allow us to get rhythm. I’ve looked back at the goals, the first comes off 12 passes, the second 19, the goal at Ross County came off of 12. There’s an element of having control and changing speed. It would be different if I came in and followed the manager’s ideas and ways but I can’t do that. It’s different to my beliefs. I thought it was good enough to do well in a number of games but I have to imprint mine and certainly as a team because we open up we take more risks in terms of our positioning. James and Borna ger really high, I have had success with that in the pass. You see with the goal the other night where Borna is. It’s important we allow Borna to be Borna Barisic. In doing that we have to know what the weaknesses are, that’s the grey area we have to improve on.

Will there be more backroom staff arrivals?

I just want to assess everything at the moment. In every management staff you want continuity with the club. That’s probably me know, someone who knows the league. I wanted to bring a staff in from outside that didn’t have preconceptions that I had. I wanted people to come in with clean eyes. I have given opportunities for one or two that are in house to almost work in this period of being promoted with more responsibility and I am enjoying that at the moment. I don’t feel the big need that there is anything missing in my staff. They are enjoying it they’ve won four games. The reality in football is there is something in post.

Are you still looking to strengthen in January?

They have to come in to start. That’s my big thing now. It would be nice if Roofe, Hagi, Colak and Lawrence had been available because those four players could’ve played as our front four. I think there is starters who have been unavailable. If someone is coming into the building you should view it that they’re coming into start. If they’re not and they are for later on you’ll hear that in my voice because I will be honest about it. We don’t need more squad players, we need players to improve the starting 11 I think that’s clear for people to see.

Is this a last chance audition for some of the starting 11 you’ll have out on Monday?

I don’t know about that. I want to see a collectively strong performance. I think when everybody has clarity the individuals within the team will play stronger. I wouldn’t want them to go down that route. I think people are at different stages of their Rangers career, I think that’s fair to say. To be part of Rangers’ squad you have to be successful in these games. These are the games that you’re judged on. The players are more than aware of that. We have hardly anyone going into their first Old Firm game which is a bonus and some of the players have ridden the highs and the lows of this fixture as I have myself.

In the Aberdeen v Celtic game they could change their front three for an equally good front three, that’s the option you don’t have off the bench?

No, but that gives a peace of mind to the players that are playing that they know I trust them and they’re out there. Would I like a fully-fit Kemar Roofe, Antonio Colak, Hagi and Lawrence and do exactly the same as Celtic? Definitely. That’s where when I make statements about our squads not being too far apart I’m saying it with experience and I’m also saying it with a lot of knowledge as well. I’m not being disrespectful. I think Celtic have some fantastic players and I think that the manager doing ever so well. He’s not just a good coach, he’s recruited very well which every good manager has to do. Sometimes having too many options you can muddle the water as well though.

Could you take any learning points from the previous game at Parkhead?

Not really if I’m honest. I try to focus on the games where we have done well. There are certain parts of that game that we wouldn’t want to repeat, I think that’s fair to say.

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A sad day yesterday with the passing of Pele, having spent some time coaching in Brazil, did your paths ever cross and what did he mean to you?

I got a video when I was young, Pele the Master and his Method, where he had his old Puma football boots on with different colour segments on them to where you should kick the ball. It was at Vila Belmiro, the Santos stadium So I was hugely excited in 2017, the 13th or 14th of February, I remember the day because it was when my family came to join me in Brazil after not seeing them for two months. My children were two and four at the time and that evening we beat Santos 3-1 at Vila Belmiro. I was so excited to go there because of that video and Pele. Obviously, he was the king of football. It’s sad we obviously lost Maradona not so long ago and now Pele as well and Cruyff, I’m a big Cruyff man. I’m the last person that should be giving a tribute to that man but the tributes are fantastic and all the stuff we’re seeing on TV as well, if you’re a football lover like we all are, it’s fantastic to see. Condolonces  to him and his family and everyone that loves football and everyone that’s Brazilian as well because it’s a nation in mourning today.

How big is Monday a test of mentality?

It’s another opportunity for them to demonstrate it and show what we are. I think, at times last season in Europe and coming back and playing domestic games in between, semi-finals and finals after extra-time and the passing of a member of staff as well, I don’t know where questions on mentality are with this group. I think that’s cheap and poor to question the mentality of the group that showed last season, just five or six months ago, an unbelievable mentality to win against the odds where things were happening when they weren’t able to train because of where they were. The mentality of this group even in the time I’ve been back has been excellent.

How much are you looking forward to turning the tide in this fixture?

That’s the job, that’s the challenge isn’t it? The challenge is to try and get the upper hand again in the Old Firm in one of the biggest derbies in the world. No one likes to be second in that. We have to get the upper hand in that and we have to get the upper hand against the other teams in the league that are trying to fight tooth and nail to get up there and challenge as well. We’ve not been as successful so far this season in both situations. We obviously lost the first Old Firm and we’re behind on points against other teams in the league where we’ve dropped sloppy points at times which has been very costly to us. It’s important we start moving in the right direction as soon as possible, that was probably yesterday not tomorrow we needed to move forward.